The arrests of Nassau's county executive and Oyster Bay's town supervisor Thursday are the latest in a string of corruption prosecutions against New York politicians.

"You put your trust in people, and when something like this happens, it's pretty disheartening," says Caleigh Toye, an Oyster Bay resident.

Executive Ed Mangano and Supervisor John Venditto are accused of taking bribes and kickbacks from a Nassau restaurant owner who is also under indictment. Both Republican political leaders deny the charges.

Over the summer, former state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and former state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver were sentenced to time in prison for taking bribes and abusing the powers of their offices.

"New York is clearly one of the most corrupt states in the country, from top to bottom," says attorney Paul Sabatino II.

In 1993, Sabatino helped the Suffolk County Legislature with its public referendum on term limits. In Suffolk, county lawmakers can serve a maximum of 12 years. Nassau has no such limits.

But the limits have not kept Suffolk County clear of corruption, either. In February, former Suffolk Police Chief James Burke pleaded guilty to federal charges for beating a suspect and having officers cover it up.

A month after that, Suffolk's former Conservative Party Chairman Ed Walsh was convicted of falsifying time-sheets to get extra unearned pay.

Experts say the arrests of Mangano and Venditto might affect the competitive state Senate elections in two weeks. Democrats are vying to retake control of the legislative body.

Next year, most Nassau County and Town of Oyster Bay positions are up for re-election as well.